wheeler



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. M. WHEELER. EXHIBITION STRUGTURE.

Patented Oct. 10, 1893.

GYOVER N MENT INDUSTRY HANOFAUNIVERSALWORID'S EXHIBIT (ho-MM Iss0 Jnven/Z'on' y J6 'iM x1; M-f I VCR NMEN'I' INDUSTRY a e h v m e e h S 2 m U m L m. ET HS WW I m.-. MN m X B (No Model.)

Patented Oct. 10, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. WHEELER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

EXHlBlTlON-STRUCTU RE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 506,291, dated October 10, 1893.

Application filed December 20, 1890. Serial No. 375,351. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE MON'IAGUE" WHEELER, a citizen of tli'e United States, residingat Washington, in the District of O0- lumbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Exhibition-Structures and a System for the Classification of Exhibits in the Same, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a method of classification of exhibits which consists in so locating the various exhibits or groups of exhibits in respect to each other that contiguous groups shall always present both their relation, correlation and an order of'development; and for this purpose I have also devised a structure comprising one or more parts in which advantage may be taken of any possible site, whether the structure be in the shape of a circle, a square, an ellipse, a trapezoid, a rectangle or parallelogram without departing from the order in which the various groups may be exhibited.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention-Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating the grouping and arrangement of various buildings constituting the exhibition structure, and also showing my system of classification of exhibits. Figs. 2, 3,'and 4 are modifications of the same. Fig. 5 is a cross. section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 of the group of buildings showing an architectural arrangement of the same with respect to height.

WVhile I have shown this part of my invention as consisting in the order of grouping a series of buildings each to contain some special exhibit, it is obvious that the same plan may be followed in the space comprised. under one roof in which the divisions illustrated in the plan by separate buildings will be formed by partitions or railings with passage ways disposed in the same manner; or that it may be a combination of simple buildings and sub-divided buildings; and for this reason I have used the word structure in my specification and claims to indicate both a single building having the described divisions or series of buildings, in which each building constitutes a division.

Fig. 1 shows a circular structure having in turn are intersected by radial aisles which terminate in or near the center of the structure. In this wise, the entire group of buildings is readily subdivided into compartments or exhibit reservations and each part is rendered readily accessible along least. distance lines by a direct passage from any one point to any other given point in the group however remote. But I do not limit myself to the circular shape there shown, as it is obvious that the reservations and divisions may be bounded by right lines, provided always that the aisles leading from the center be radial, and that the concentric passages be parallel.

In Figs. 2, 3, and 4 I have shown various modifications of my invention as applied respectively to an ellipse, a square, and a parallelogram. Where a circular or elliptical form is given to the structure, boundary divisions may be added as in Fig. 1, either one or more, dependent upon the available ground space to be occupied. These boundary divisions are separated from the central structure by surrounding passages as shown. In place of having the radial passages intersect at the centerof the structure I may provide a central reservation having a surrounding passage in which terminate the radial passages. In the center of the exposition space may be placed the initial motive power necessary for all the exhibits, and rising therefrom may be constructed an octagonal tower, in size and height proportioned to the magnitude of each undertaking and overlooking the whole field. Whenever the particular surrounding building is of sufficient size to require it, I provide a continuous central arched passage lighted from the top, and upon which the different exhibits front, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It is thus seen that whatever the shape of the ground space allotted for an exhibition, a structure can be erected thereon in conformity with myinvention, availing itself of the entire surface with the greatest possible economy of space and preserving whatever its contour may be, a uniform and unvarying arrangement and sequence of divisions and an orderly audaccessible means of passage along least distance lines from one division to theoth'er.

Another advantage of the structure which I have described consists in its perfect adaptation to my system of classification of exhibits, and its capacity for illustrating such system. My system of classification is based upon the grand departments within which are comprised all the mental and manual work of the world. These are the domains of thought, industry and government, to the first of which is allotted the central circle of the structure. In consonance with a possible or an assumed law of evolution, the next concentric circle is that of the domain of industry, and the exterior circle that of government. The combined functional parts, such as theosophy, &c., of the world of thought as defined by my classification are taken from the cardinal developments up to-the present epoch and follow, to a great extent at least, the evolution of the human mind, through its emotional, imaginative and reasoning faculties.

The world of industry comprises all that mental and manual work have produced in this branch of the worlds economy. The governments (from those based on one-man power to'th'at of every man power, controlled by lawlhave followed also a species of evolution and are placed on the exterior as being and to become the natural and actual outgrowth of the relations and results of the worlds of thought and industry. Each space or world I is again subdivided into smaller divisions occupied by groups, those on the same circumference being located with respect to their correlation while they exhibit radially a species of development according to the foltion the most important current and historic results in electricity, a power from among the imponderable now already so wide, and

which promises to become universal in its application. be of modern style of architecture.

inner circle of the whole space.

Proceeding now in the order already stated, the central portion of the exposition space allowed to the domain of thought is assumed as the point whence the various arts result ing from the application of mind (subdivided into its emotional, imaginative and reasoning faculties) subjectively and objectively emanate sequentially and radially outward, noted by the types of (1) mythology, (2) law, including literature and the fine arts, (3) science, (4:) invention, (5) industry, (6) government; and part passu outward from the center the schools of architecture from the ancient to the modern times are represented.

The concentric banded spaces allotted to, aggregating and comprehending the domain of the world of thought are as follows:

1-Mythology, theosophy, theology, metaphysics, moral philosophy and psychology, with special subjects of history, physiology and medicine.

The structure inclosing these will;

This for mechanical convenience occupies the first or 2Law, literature, art, music, poetry, son g, painting and sculpture.

3Science, natural or experimental philosophy,physics, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, geography, geology, mineralogy, meteorology, natural history,biology, engineering, architecture, economics, statistics, sociology.

4Agricultural, mining, manufacturing and commercial inventions, placed in immediate juxtaposition to these classes of exhibits respectively.

The buildings to be placed within the first concentric band are to be representative of Saracenic, Egyptian, Jewish, Indian,Persian and Chinese architecture.

The construction in the circular band dedicated to law, 850., will represent each an individual of the Greek as well as the Roman schools, and the various other architectural schools or epochs.

The circular banded space dedicated to science may have all the buildings of the Gothic order of architecture.

The inventionsare to be inclosed under well lighted and commodious structure illus trative of the modern Italian and English schools, the Renaissance and the current American.

Again concentric and exterior to the perimeter of the circle representing the domain of thought, comes the more ample space devoted to the world of industry, subdivided into agriculture, mining, manufactures and commerce.

Encircling the space for the industriesis placed a banded inclosure .in which "all the functions of government may be displayed, the legislative and judicial (each separated from each other) and the present known administrative divisions of the executive branch, such as State, War, Navy, Post Office, Interior, Justice, Commerce, Industry, Public Works, Public Worship, and Instructiomand Fine Arts.

Special exhibits for the government are provided for as shown in Fig.1 and disposed in various directions (noted cartographically at the exterior corners) may be appropriate spaces for objects too bulky for the main body of the industrial exhibit.

In functioning mysystem of classification within the structure or exposition buildings which I have described, certain architectural features may be employed for the sake of greater convenience.

Buildings placed within the ifi-rst concentric band and illustrativeof the world of thought and its architecturaldevelopment maybe uniform as to height, usefully subdivided, and may increase in size radially outward until those employed for inventions shall be subordinate only to the grand structure devoted to the industries and perhaps to-certain buildings used by the governments.

Central as to the banded space belonging IIO 1 cumferential lines that may be varied in proximity as required. The scale of distance is arbitrary, dependentupon the scope of each undertaking, and need not be proportionate to that of thechart herewith. Such in brief is a methodical and comprehensive general plan and systemfor a temporary or permanent worlds exhibit, the details of which admit of being modified in the location, construction, and arrangement according to the departments, without departing from the spirit or intent of myinvention. I

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is. l

1. An improvement in the art of building, which consists in a. covered structure for the dispositionof exhibits having radial and concentric exhibit divisions andcorresponding thereto, radial avenues andintersectin g there.-

with a seriesof parallelconcentric avenues leading around the area, said avenues freely communicatingwith each other, and the said structureand sub-divided area being adaptable in its own shape and configuration to every kind of site, substantially as described.

2. An improvement in the art of building, which consists in a structure for the disposition of exhibits having radial and'concentric exhibit divisions I separate exterior exhibit divisions bordering on a communicatlng avenue coincident with the perimeterof the more central divisionsand corresponding to said central divisions, radial avenues and intersecting therewith a series of parallel concentric-avenues leading aroundthe area, said avenues freely communicating with each other andwith said separate exterior exhibit divisions, substantially as described.

3. An improvement in the art of building which consists in the combination with a structure for the disposition of exhibitshav- 5;

ing a central reservation, of a motive power located in said central reservation,and from whence emanates and is distributed the power necessary for the successful illustration of the exhibits, and of a tower which rises from the interior of said central reservation, dominate ing the whole structural field substantially as described.

4. A structure for the disposition of exhibits, having a central reservation, contiguous divisions surrounding it in bands, aisles separating said banded divisions, aisles extends ing from said central reservation to the perimeter of r the structure and intersecting said surrounding divisional bands and aisles,and 7o boundary divisions having a communicating aisle co-incident with the perimeter of the central divisions, whereby to illustrate scienq tifically the successive development relation andcorrelation of the various groups of exhibits. p r I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEO. M. WHEELER. "f

' Witnesses:

WoonBURY LOWERY,

JOSEPH ROY. 

